OC Varsity recognizes local athletes, teams

For her efforts last week, Esperanza High softball player Brynley Steele was named ocvarsity.com's Softball Player of the Week. On Mar. 19, Steele went 3-for-4 in a 7-1 victory over fellow Top-10 team El Modena. Last weekend, the Penn State signee nabbed Tournament MVP honors at Northwood High's Timberwolf Classic. ...

The Anaheim Lions Tournament, the largest baseball tournament in the county, begins on Saturday. Among the 76-team field are Anaheim High, Katella High, Loara High, Servite High and Savanna High. Last season, Pacifica defeated Servite, 3-1, in the championship game at Glover Stadium. The last Anaheim-based high school to claim the tournament's championship was Katella in 2000. Since the tournament's inception in 1975, Loara and Savanna have each won three titles. ...

Last Friday, ocvarsity.com revealed its All-County boys and girls basketball teams. Canyon senior JoJo Ballestero, a 5-foot-10guard who averaged 19 points a game, was the only local player to be recognized. He was named to the third team. ...

Former Servite baseball player Cole Irvin has started six games on the mound for the University of Oregon. Through Monday, the freshman was 4-1 with a 3.69 earned run average in 39 innings pitched. At press time, the Ducks were 18-6 (5-1 in the Pac-12) and ranked eighth in Baseball America's Top 25 poll. ...

Through 31 games for the University of Georgia softball team, Kaylee Puailoa – a Western High product – was hitting .378 (31-for-82) with seven doubles and nine home runs. The freshman had also driven in 23 runs for the Bulldogs. ...

According to MLB.com's Jane Lee, former Canyon High standout and Oakland A's prospect Grant Green was optioned to minor-league camp on Mar. 17. Green, the 13th overall pick in the 2009 Major League Baseball Draft, was competing at third base during spring training. The Athletics open their season at home on Monday against the Seattle Mariners. ...

On Monday, the Los Angeles Angels of Anaheim open the 2013-14 season in Cincinnati for a three-game set against the Reds. From there, they'll fly to Texas for a weekend series against the Rangers, in an American League West showdown. Next Friday's tilt in Arlington will be Josh Hamilton's first game in Texas since signing with the Angels in December. On Apr. 9, the Oakland A's will be in Anaheim for the Angels' home opener. ...